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Basics

Describe yourself briefly.

Scot's background includes founding three companies, working as a computer scientist in IBM's India Research Lab, and managing the renewable energy portfolio for the Clinton Global Initiative. He has taught design courses, led project teams, and built partnerships in the Himalayan region since 2005. In his position as CEO, Frank is responsible for initiating and maintaining relations with governments, other NGOs and universities. His training is in electrical engineering and computer science (MIT).

Describe your Unreasonable Venture in 100 words or less.

One Earth Designs serves as a catalyst for socially and environmentally minded innovation among Himalayan agricultural and nomadic communities. Acting as a conduit through which communities can access technical and business support, we unleash the potential of modern design thinking.

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Team

Describe your relevant experience (especially entrepreneurial).

My entrepreneurial spirit and sincere desire to find working solutions have resulted in several successful ventures and international projects. My working career started in junior high, providing tech support at an ISP. In high school, I started a consultancy that provided web design and hardware support. I became known locally as the ‘computer wiz’. This venture was highly successful. It was my first experience managing teams & it provided considerable funds towards my MIT tuition. My college ventures taught me a lot both from success & failure. Later, working at IBM’s India Research Lab & several Chinese firms opened my eyes to numerous social and environmental issues & led me to tackle problems beyond IT. Since 2005, I have focused on solutions for the emerging markets.

Why is your team uniquely qualified to run this venture?

Our core team of 13 people is our biggest strength. We possess a unique combination of talent and expertise; adventurousness and inspiration; dedication and determination; and, importantly, a deep respect for and friendship with the communities we serve. At One Earth Designs, scientists, engineers, designers, business people, environmental specialists, and international development experts work together to create solutions to the world’s most pressing environmental & social issues. We have learned to operate in multi-cultural and multi-lingual environments; to adapt to extremes of altitude and temperature, sleep and stink (when no water is available for bathing). Ordinary, everyday things inspire us! That is why we feel we can adapt to just about anything that comes our way.

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Venture

What is the urgent social or environmental need you're addressing?

We are tackling a major global issue by starting locally. Fifty percent of all people--including the rural populations of western China--rely heavily on solid fuels for cooking and heating. These fuels cause indoor air pollution, contribute to climate change, and perpetuate gender inequality because girls collect fuel while boys attend school. Each year, indoor air pollution from these fuels kills 1.6 million people globally and 500,000 rural Chinese. The nomadic Chinese communities we work with are most at risk due to cold winters, high elevation, and lack of access to health care. In addition to air pollution, China’s large population and reliance on solid fuel positions it as the world’s #1 greenhouse gas emitter, generating 1/4 of global CO2.

What is your solution to this need? Describe your business strategy.

Working with rural communities in China, we developed the SolSource (http://oed.co/), a portable clean energy system, suited to local needs. The SolSource concentrates solar energy for cooking, heat storage, or conversion to electricity with thermo-piles. Our research indicates that the SolSource--both more functional and cheaper than alternatives--is within the preferred price range for customers in our pilot market in W. China while retaining a profit margin. Our strategy is to sell to government agencies and NGOs, which can use their existing networks to distribute to rural communities. Within the next two years, we plan to expand across 2/3rds of China and beyond. In 2010, we received interest from orgs and individuals in 30 countries, with urgent demand in Pakistan and Haiti.

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Milestones

Convince us it will work. What milestones have you achieved?

One Earth Designs (OED) incorporated in MA in 2009. In 2010, we received 501(c)3 status in the US and became an LLC in China. OED has been recognized for the innovation of the SolSource by the Dutch Postcode Lottery Green Challenge, UNEP Seed Initiative, St Andrews Prize for the Environment, US EPA, Clinton Global Initiative, MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition, and MIT Global Challenge. Measurements on in-use units indicate potential to abate 31 tons of CO2 per family per year.

We have also developed award-winning water quality & heating solutions, which we plan to launch soon after the SolSource. OED’s work will be featured in Design Like You Give a Damn II, and has previously been covered by the New York Times, Discovery Channel, I.D. Magazine, Wired, Make, WorldChanging, and more.

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